COLLEGE STATION, Texas – In front of the largest crowd in Sun Devil Football history, Arizona State couldn’t overcome 24 points allowed off turnovers as #10/#9 Texas A&M pulled away late on Saturday afternoon in College Station, Texas.
The Aggie faithful packed 107,523 fans into Kyle Field - the 10th-largest crowd in A&M program history, over 4,000 more than ASU’s previous all-time attendance record at the 1986 Rose Bowl and just under 15,000 more than its previous road record of 92,746 at Georgia in 2009.
Regardless, the Sun Devils (1-1) were undaunted and held Texas A&M to its third-lowest yardage total since the start of the 2024 season. Arizona State trailed just 24-20 through three quarters before things took a turn for the disastrous.
The Aggies connected for a 33-yard touchdown on the second play of the quarter to extend the lead to 31-20 and followed that with two pick-sixes and a fumble recovery that led to a field goal to become just the third FBS program since 1996 to score 48 or more points while having less than 260 yards of offense.
Reed Harris looked the part that he has all August with nine catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns, including one that cut the score to 24-20 at the end of the third quarter. Cutter Boley finished 21-of-34 with 254 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Aggies played penalty-free for the first three quarters, not receiving a penalty until 7:46 in the fourth quarter - a false start - while ASU had several momentum-ending flags and 9 penalties for 62 yards.
The Sun Devil defense was up to task, holding A&M to just 255 total yards of offense and 3-for-12 on third downs. Martell Hughes and Boogie Wilson led the way with eight tackles each.
Lyrik Rawls interception on the first play of the second half turned into ASU’s second field goal of the day and cut the deficit to 17-13 with 10:10 left in the third quarter, but the Aggies made it 24-13 with 5:53 to play and had the Sun Devils playing catch up late on Horton’s second touchdown catch. Reed’s 58-yard catch and run late in the frame brought ASU back within one score before things unravelled in the final frame.
No. 10 Texas A&M took a 14-7 lead on a 13-play, 75-yard drive capped by a four-yard pass from Marcel Reed to Isaiah Horton and then took advantage of a failed ASU fake punt to take a 17-10 at the end of the half.
ASU’s Carson Smith had answered with a 30-yard field goal to make it 14-10 with 6:15 left in first half.
ASU came out efficient on offense and defense but a muffed punt gave Texas A&M an eight-yard field and it took advantage to go ahead 7-0 with 4:55 in the first quarter. The Sun Devils answered with an impressive 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by 21-yard Cutter Boley toss to Reed Harris to make it 7-7 with 4:34 left in the first half.
The Sun Devils posted 200 yards of total offense in the first half, led by Reed Harris who had seven catches for 108 yards.
Kyson Brown ran for 66 yards on 13 carries.
Next up
Arizona State travels to London from Dallas on Saturday evening and will take on Kansas in the Union Jack Classic on Saturday, Sept. 19, on Fox with a 5 p.m. London kick time (9 a.m. in Arizona).
Last time vs. Kansas (2024)
ASU and Kansas went back and forth on Oct. 5 at Mountain America State as ASU won a 35-31 thriller. Cam Skattebo’s 39-yard run late put ASU in position for the comeback win, as he ended with 182 yards on 25 carries. Sam Leavitt connected with Jordyn Tyson on a three-yard score with 16 seconds remaining to give ASU the win. The teams combined for 896 yards of total offense, 51 first downs and 134 plays, as the Sun Devils ran for 309 yards on 45 carries.